The approximation of flows

Let U, V be two strongly continuous one-parameter groups of bounded operators on a Banach space $\text{X}$ with corresponding infinitesimal generators S, T. We prove the following: ∥U_t, ? V_t ∥ = O(t), t → 0, if and only if U = V; ∥U_t ? V_t∥ = O(t^α), t → 0; with 0 ? α ? 1, if and only if $\text{S = Ω(T + P)Ω}{}^{\mathrm{?1}}$, where Ω, P, are bounded operators on $\text{X}$ such that $\text{∥U}{}_{\mathrm{t}}\text{Ω ? ΩU}{}_{\mathrm{t}}\text{∥ = O(t}{}^{\mathrm{\alpha }}\text{), ∥U}{}_{\mathrm{t}}\text{P ? PU}{}_{\mathrm{t}}\text{∥ = ?O(t}{}^{\mathrm{\alpha }}\text{), t → 0; ∥U}{}_{\mathrm{t}}\text{? V}{}_{\mathrm{t}}\text{∥ = O(t)}$ if and only if $\text{S}{}^1\text{? T}{}^1$ has a bounded extension to $\text{X}$¹. Further results of this nature are inferred for semigroups, reflexive spaces, Hilbert spaces, and von Neumann algebras.